As a checking line center, Straka was a fraction as effective as Jordan Staal. He was okay, but as a left-wing or a center on a scoring line is where he really shined. If there's not room for him in a scoring position with some powerplay time (and there's not), Staal's a better choice.
I'd also take Tocchet and Mullen over Kehoe. Heck, I'd take James Neal before I'd take Kehoe.
On a fourth line, I might take Tocchet over Kovalev as well, though Kovy's playoff performances give me reason to think long and hard about that.
On D, Stackhouse needs to be someone else. Maybe Zubov. Maybe Dave Burrows.
But in answer to the TC's question, I think that team does quite, quite well against modern competition. There are some old guys whose games wouldn't work against modern competition (notably Stan Mikita, in my opinion), but there aren't a lot of them on his roster.
The goaltending's pretty shaky, however. Barrasso was nearly as erratic as Flower in the net. More highs, but almost as many lows.
Hmm, maybe I'll take a crack at this
66-71-68
Stevens-Crosby-Tocchet
Pronovost-Franchise-Mullen
Trottier-Staal-Kovalev
(Not that Malkin's necessarily better than Francis or Crosby; I just like these line combinations better)
Coffey-Carlyle
Burrows-Murphy
Gonchar-Letang
(one too many right-handed D, but I'm not sure I want Martin or Zalapski over Burrows or Zubov just due to handedness)
Barrasso
Fleury
So you would take a hands down better Center and make him a wing to an inferior one? Makes a ton of sense.
Once Mario started having back problems he played a lot of wing. He also played a lot of wing in Canada Cup. It really didn't dent his production.
Putting Crosby at center and Mario at Left Wing wouldn't really present much of a problem for 66, since he was already used to it. I think TC's first line is one of the two best possible that can be constructed from the pieces available to him (the other would have Malkin as the center, though in that case, I might want Mario taking the faceoff then sliding over).
Edit: Crap. Forgot Recchi. He needs to be there, but I'll be damned if I know where to put him. Like that Stevens Crosby Tocchet line too much. I guess he takes Kovalev's spot. He's a better player, but I'm not sure he makes that fourth line better.
It'd be a tough choice, but I'd use Francis in Adams' spot on the PK, and keep Adams in the press box to be the first in in case of any injury.
